The Non-Consumer Advocate’s Guide to Frugal Living

One of the best parts about blogging has been connecting with interesting and inspiring people. Katy Wolk-Stanley, who blogs at the Non-Consumer Advocate, is one of my role models for simpler living. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s frugal, she’s positive. She also has an awesome mantra: “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” Here’s our interview:

What inspired your blog?

I joined a buy-nothing-new group called The Compact in 2007, and it changed my life. I had considered myself pretty non-consumery beforehand, but I realized how much I had been fooling myself. I bought tons of packaging-tastic toys for my kids and couldn’t pass a clearance table without feeling the need to find that perfect deal. Even if it was something I had no need for.

I received an e-mail from an Oprah producer in 2008 asking for my story, and she and I e-mailed and phoned one another multiple times daily for a couple of weeks. They were putting together a show about overspenders, and I think I was going to be the underspender example.

The plane tickets were all but booked, when they decided to go another direction with the show. This left me in a very surreal situation, as I had been having pretend conversations with Oprah Winfrey, both in my head and aloud. (I wanted to make sure I could talk the talk without tripping over my words. I knew I would be nervous on the show, so I wanted my words to have a nice flow.)

I was suddenly left with a story to tell, but no audience. I was all dressed up with nowhere to go! So I started The Non-Consumer Advocate blog, which is actually better than a guest spot on Oprah.

Why buy used?

When you buy a new product, it’s made from virgin materials that had to be mined, harvested, concocted, packaged, waste materials disposed of and often shipped from halfway across the world. When you buy a used product, all that activity and packaging had already happened, so there’s a much smaller impact. The purchase of a used product does not trigger the powers that be to make a replacement product, so it’s a completely different cycle.

If you’re looking to have your belongings be high quality, used is the way to go. I could never prioritize spending $1,000 on a hand-knotted Oriental rug or $2,000 on a high quality sofa, yet that’s what I have in my living room. I spent $175 for the pair, and expect to have these items for the rest of my life.

I’m not trying to keep up with the Joneses; I’m just trying to have the things in my life be sturdy, beautiful and functional. My couch has held up for 70 years, so I know it won’t fall apart on me.

When a used item is purchased, it’s often for less than the actual dollar value. And if you follow the “buy low, sell high” financial advice, you’ll end up with a house full of things that can later be sold for more than you initially paid. This was true for my now teenage sons’ toys. Playmobile sets were picked up at thrift stores for a dollar or two and later sold on Craigslist for $20. I let them keep the money to hammer the point home.

Let’s cut to the chase: Buying used saves a ton of money! And unless you hit your trust fund on your 18th birthday, this is a huge factor to consider. Buying used allows you to earn less money, which in turn allows you to follow your dreams. (Unless of course, you dream was to become a junk bond trader, in which case you’re probably not a Non-Consumer Advocate reader.)

Has the recession changed your family’s approach to finances?

Yes and no. I have been in my job as a labor and delivery nurse for over 15 years, and enjoy job stability that has become increasingly rare for many Americans.

Having said that, my husband quit his stable career in late 2008 to follow his dream job. It was something he had been working towards for almost a decade and I fully supported him. Sadly, he was laid off after six months. It was partially due to the recession, and partially due to a series of random events. (I won’t get into the details, as it is his story to tell, not mine.) The end result was six months of extremely low pay with an additional five months of unemployment without any unemployment benefits. (They had him quit, so they could hire him back — don’t ask.)

However, we were able to weather these events because we already had the skills to live beneath our means. We already hung dry our laundry, ate our meals at home, sent the kids to public school, watched library movies, kept the thermostat low, practiced inexpensive gift giving and countless other frugal activities. There were no changes to our routine. When you live frugally, there is not the same fear of financial instability.

Getting rid of clutter isn’t the focus of your blog, but you’ve explored it. What are some of your favorite ways to tackle it — and to make money from the things you decide to get rid of?

It’s funny how frugality and decluttering dovetail together so nicely. Logically, it makes sense to have a large stash of extra belongings for every eventuality. But the opposite is actually true.

When you have fewer possessions, it’s easier to find what you need. As well as a greater satisfaction in what you have chosen to allow into your life.

I do feel like anyone coming to me for decluttering advice is asking for trouble. I go through spurts of decluttering here and there, but my rather large house is still a work in progress.

I guess my advice would be to keep plugging away at the decluttering. Sometimes I feel like my small Goodwill donations are hardly worth the trip, but like frugal living — it’s the small things that add up.

We also take our stuff to consignment shops, sell on Craigslist, garage sale it and even eBay every now and then.

A good example would be our board game closet, which I recently attacked. I put all the unwanted games into a garage sale, then schlepped them over to a consignment shop. What they didn’t take was pawed through by my stepmother and then finally donated at Goodwill. It may sound like a pain in the tuchus, but this all happened over a matter of months.

What are some of your favorite books about personal finance?

I am a loud and proud thrift and personal finance geek, so I have many favorites:

“The Complete Tightwad Gazette,” by Amy Dacyczyn: Dacyczyn’s compilation of years of newsletters is an inspiring and timeless resource of frugal living. Her creativity in pulling together the details for her family of eight (!) is a wonder to behold.

Who are your personal heroes?

Amy Dacyczyn, who showed us all that life as a “Tightwad” can be rich.

My mother has been a thrift store shopper for as long as I can remember, and I’ve inherited her values. Have your kids embraced yours, too? What advice do you have for other parents?

My sons, who are 12 and 14, are full-out, unapologetic thrift store aficionados. My older son has a keen eye for awesome thrift store finds, and my younger son always asks to go to Goodwill whenever there’s something that he wants or needs.

If they want something from a regular store, they are welcome to spend their own money, which is usually a deterrent. $30 jeans are hard to swallow when you’re used to mom paying $4.

My advice to other parents is to share your values with your children, and never present secondhand shopping as a lesser option. I always crow about my bargains, (maybe not so appealing, but, oh well …) and include the kids in the thrill of the hunt.

Thrift store shopping is fun! It’s a time to find fantastic deals and older style items that are better quality that what’s being produced these days. Kids are smart, and can join in on the excitement.

If Joining The Compact and buying only use sounds too hard to take on, try it in baby steps. A month or even a weeklong commitment is less intimidating. It’s easier than you think and great fun!

22 Responses

She has mentioned a set of my favorite books: The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. I bought those books years ago when they were individual books and not the complete book as it is now sold. I often read them sitting in front of the fire in my woodstove in the winter. It’s just comfort to me. Now I wish I could follow all the tips she has listed.

I love using up what I have. There are limits, though, regarding how we have to dress for certain situations. I won’t buy anything used. I will wear my favorite T-shirt or bathrobe at home until it starts to shred, perhaps, but I won’t go out in clothes that should have been thrown out years ago.

I appreciate looking at model rooms in magazines, but they’re too much work for me. Also, try to explain to a cat that you paid $3,000 for a couch (instead of a reasonable amount) and no, please don’t scratch the corner on a whim.

@LM: I’m glad you mentioned the clothing part of our interview. I asked Katy about that specifically because I wasn’t aware until recently that some people won’t buying used clothing, and I wondered what she thought of it.

I’m selective, and I like you, I won’t buy things that should have been thrown out, either. But I’ve also found a lot of clothing that’s barely been worn sitting in consignment stores. Women especially seem to get bored of clothing long before it actually gets worn out (we’re trained to by advertisers and the fashion industry). It’s the whole basis for fast fashion.

And don’t worry; I’m not trying to convert you … someone needs to buy the new stuff before Katy and I can enjoy it.

Thanks for publishing this interview, you sure are fast on the turn around!

In response to “LM,” although we buy all our clothes used, we only buy high quality, still in style clothes that look unworn. Just yesterday I bought a pair of black Levi’s “skinny jeans” at Goodwill for my 12-year-old son. He’s in a phase of only wanting this particular style, so it was a real find. They looked brand new, and I actually had a store voucher, (from using my Goodwill Club Card) so they were free!

If pawing through thrift store merchandise isn’t your cup of tea, then take a look at a consignment store. They are picky about what they sell, and it’s usually very work friendly stuff. Even better, bring in your unworn clothes for store credit. Win-win, as you make room in your closet and get something “new.”

I have always been a thrift store shopper, thanks to my frugal mom. I will shop a thrift store before even thinking about walking into a regular retail shop. Now, I’ve noticed that they are getting more and more crowded…it seems the regular retail shoppers have discovered them too!

Great interview! Thanks so much for sharing a bit of your story, Katy. I was the youngest of four, so used clothing has always been a given. I actually didn’t realize that there are people who will not wear used clothing. I’d love to hear more about why. I can absolutely understand not wanting to have worn-down clothing — but perhaps the aversion goes beyond that?

The list of fav books are all our household favorites too and Dacyczyn’s a hero of mine too. I’m not trying to browbeat LM since I know others who feel the same way about used clothing, but I work in a creative high end field and you’d be amazed at the percentage of my clothes which are 2nd hand and are the ones I get the most compliments on and never convey ‘thrift store’ icky.

As friends and co-workers get to know me better I’ve shared my secrets and often crow to them like Katy does. Goodwill often has brand new overstocks from Ann Taylor, Talbots and Target lines. Clothes Mentor is a fabulous consignment store for women in our area — clothes often have never been worn and still bear their tags (and there’s coach bags!). Estate sales and garage sales have yielded one of a kind jewelry, never worn designer shoes, leather jackets etc.

My kids have grown up with this style of thrifty living and as our incomes have increased we’ve continued this shopping for environmental reasons and the trill of the hunt.

Being over 60 and coming from a mother who was a wonderful example of “frugalness”, I can honestly say that our family is now three generations of people not afraid to buy “used clothing”. There will always be people who think they have to buy new and therefore get rid of their “still nice” used clothing at garage sales, Ebay, etc. My family has always looked nice and for pennies. Once the clothing is worn out, it will go to making things such as quilts, pillows, braided rugs… I love my frugal life and happy to know others who feel the same with pride. Financial security and not carrying debt is priceless.

You’re making me feel great about what most people regard as a disability.

I have Asperger’s syndrome, and one of the consequences is that I’m almost totally oblivious to fashion. My clothes are clean and unfrayed, and my socks match (each other, not my shirt necessarily) but that’s about it. I had a girlfriend years ago that told me that I looked like I got dressed in a Goodwill store in the dark. She didn’t understand that the Goodwill part was a compliment to me. (And if you prefer earth tones, the dark part ain’t so bad, either)

Not keeping up with the Jones’s is a lot easier if you don’t know (or care) what they’re doing. Tune it out and live your life like it is your own. Soon enough, it will be.

Great post, Naomi. I love consignment shops and I buy clothing at them without hesitation. We had very little money when I was growing up and my mom taught me well. Funny, even now..comfortable I guess you could say…I will never change.

I, too, want to know about the Goodwill Club Card. I was excited to learn last week that I’m eligible for the 10 percent senior discount there! Love thrift store shopping. Many jackets don’t even have the basting taken out of the pockets.

Avoid running your dryer, save approximately $150 a year (depending on dryer). Use a sturdy drying rack or hang clothes outside.

Get pet meds at CVS when possible – using AAA card. One antibiotic is $4 versus $19.

Consider starting a local barter/trade situation. For example, I want to sell a satellite dish, but I would be willing to trade it for something else.

Cable TV costs as little as $9-$10 a month (check for yourself, though). Can you manage with approximately 8-10 channels? This could be for you.

Buy some items ONLY at a major retailer… I find about a dozen items to purchase monthly or so–and I return to this store to purchase these items. Since I’m in the area, anyway, this saves me about $200-$300 each year.

Instead of going out for coffee, consider a Keurig and some delicious K-cups on sale at Kohl’s.

Re: resale shopping
I have completely redone my wardrobe at resale stores since losing the last of my baby weight and I always get compliments on things I’ve bought secondhand. I think I tend to buy more interesting things when I think that it was only $5 or $10 than if I were paying more money for it. It also makes it hard to buy retail! There was an article in the New York Times about resale shopping not too long ago and the plethora of resale shops cropping up are testament to the trend. It is great to find good deals and be environmental by not buying new.

I get sticker shock when I go into retail stores selling good quality new clothing. Gone are the days when I’ll drop $200 on a linen suit at Talbot’s. (And how many times did I actually wear that suit?) Now I look for equally good, but usually more interesting gently used items at consignment shops. You often have to pull together a “look” from various pieces instead of donning an outfit that dozens of other women are also wearing so you make more of a personal fashion statement. The comments above are right “on the money”!

Thank you for your interest in our Club Goodwill program, however the membership card you have requested is only valid in Southeastern Wisconsin and the Metropolitan Chicago area. It cannot be used at other Goodwill locations throughout the country. To see a list of participating locations please click on our Store & Donation locator at the top of our webpage

The Goodwill Club Card is for the Portland, Oregon stores only. And sadly, they are no longer being issued. They give a 5% discount when $20 (?) is spent at once. And once you spend $450, the cashier will give you a $10 voucher for free merchandise.

It used to be $10 when you spent $200, but those glory days are gone. *Sob*

So whenever I Goodwill shop with friends and family without cards, I have the clerk scan my card as well. It’s embarrassingly easy to rack up $450 this way.

I still am amazed when i go into to clothes shops at the prices. Recently saw the cost of Gillette Glidepro blades (which I use) and was able to double the life of them by putting them in vegetable oil after each use. Keeps them from rusting.

I’m surprised, no I’m shocked that in North America hanging clothes outside to dry is considered green/frugal/etc. Here in Australia it’s what everyone does. I only have one friend who uses a drier instead of a line. And in winter when it’s too cold and rainy for outside, we use a clothes horse/clothes airer/clothes rack to dry them inside. Sure we had a drier, but it was for “oh no! My uniform is still in the washing machine!” not for everything.

So try the Australian clothes drying way; get your backyard a Hills Hoist washing line!

I love the Tightwad Gazette also! I love to “nest” and save money any way I can. I feel proud of my thrift sale finds and proud of how good my family can look for very little money. I have 2 boys and a girl. For boys’ clothes, I have a friend who gives me bags free every year of everything I need for my oldest boy, which gets passed down to his brother. My daughter is picky and wants name brand things, but amazingly, I can find those used too at rummage sales. Nobody can tell that I cut our familys’ hair either, including my own. These things can be fun, if you have the right mindset. Thanks for the article!